GENERAL SURVEY OF TEXAS WOODLANDS. 



INCLUDING 



A STUDY OF THE COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES 



OFMESQUITE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The purpose of this report is to acquaint the public with the forest 

 and woodland conditions as they exist in a general way over the entire 

 State. Geography, soil, and climate are discussed, since the natural 

 distribution of the forest depends, in a large measure, upon these factors 

 in a State like Texas which crosses so many varied geologic and climatic 

 zones. 



Sufficient time has not elapsed since the establishment of the State 

 Forester's office to have permitted even a hasty examination of the 

 forested areas in all of the wooded counties of the State. Detailed 

 examinations by counties are being made in eastern and other parts 

 of Texas as rapidly as possible, and will be continued until a definite 

 knowledge of the extent and condition of the forests and woodlands 

 and the resources in forest products are known and published for all 

 the State. 



Many sources of information have been consulted in preparing parts 

 of the text. Although there is an almost unlimited field for research 

 along geographical and biological lines, including forestry, some splen- 

 did works have been published in the past. Of particular value to the 

 writers in preparing this report have been the bulletins of Professor 

 William L. Bray, formerly of the University of Texas, along botanical 

 and forestry lines, particularly the "Distribution and Adaptation of 

 the Vegetation of Texas/' published in 1906 by the University, the 

 "Forest Eesources of Texas/' and the "Timber of the Edwards Plateau 

 of Texas," published in 1904 as bulletins 47 and 49, respectively, of 

 the IT. S. Bureau of Forestry. For information concerning the geo- 

 graphic features of the State, the publications of the U. S. Geological 

 Survey relating to Texas have been consulted, particularly the "Physi- 

 cal Geography of the Texas Region," by Robert T. Hill, published by 

 the U. S. Geological Survey in 1900. The Survey kindly donated the 

 four map plates, which show the precipitation, geology,* elevations, 

 and floral feature-. 



Much assistance has been given by persons throughout the State. The 

 State Forester wishes to acknowledge with particular appreciation the 



*Since the preparation of this report, the Bureau of Economic Geology and 

 Technology of the University of Texas has issued Bulletin 44, entitled "Review 

 of the Geology of Texas." 



